Tethered aerial top



1965 N. J. STIVERS 3,201,895

TETHERED AERIAL TOP Filed March 29, 1962 35 7 s I Wa INVENTOR. WOPMA/V I jr/vazs United States Patent 3,201,85 TETI-IERED AERHAL T01 Norman J. tivers, 6545 Wilhur Ave. #27, Rescda, Calif. Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 183,585 6 Claims. (Cl. 46-61) This invention relates to a toy and more particularly to a reversing whirling toy, commonly referred to as a Yo-yo and which comprises a rotatable body having a string adapted to be attached to a center pin of the body whereby the string is adapted to be unwound and wound on the center pin so that the body will travel downwardly on the string in response to an outward force applied thereto and climb upwardly thereon by rewinding the string around the center pin through the rotational momentum of the body.

Although such toys are generally well known, this invention provides a new and improved construction wherein the major part of the bulk of the body is distributed around its outer periphery furthest away from its axis of rotation for providing an increased period of acceleration and includes improved means for securing the center pin axially and non-rotatably between a pair of laterally spaced, disc-like members comprising the body whereby the center pin may be more quickly, accurately and firmly gripped between the members without the necessity for special tools or jigs to be provided for the purpose.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved manually operable reversing whirling toy which is provided with an improved configuration wherein the major bulk of the weight of the body is distributed around the periphery of the body furthest away from its axis of rotation so as to provide a greater period of acceleration than has normally been achieved by other toys similar thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved manually operable whirling toy which provides new and improved means for more easily, quickly,

precisely, and readily assembling the toy to have its spaced dis-like body members more firmly grip the center pin extended therebetween.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved manually operable whirling toy which is ecomonical to manufacture and capable of mass production.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved manually operable reversing whirling toy of the Yo yo type which overcomes disadvantages of previous means and methods heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, in elevation, of the gravity operated reversing whirling toy of this invention;

FlGURE 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 3--3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical, cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 4-4- of FIGURE 3, with the center pin thereof illustrated as being partially installed in one of the body portions;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3 and substantially similar to FIGURE 4 with the exception that the center pin is illustrated as fully installed "ice in the said half of the body and with retaining ferrule means thereof shown positioned adjacent to the boss as it appears prior to final assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIGURE 5, illustrating the retaining ferrule means partially installed;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, in elevation, showing a portion of a boss of one of the body sections in greater detail;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of the configuration of the body sections of the toy of this invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1-8, inclusive, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a preferred embodiment of the manually operable whirling toy of this invention designed and constructed in accordance with this invention and generally designated by the numeral 111. The toy 10 generally includes a rotatable body 11 comprising a pair of laterally spaced, disc-like members 12 and 13 having a center pin 14 supported therebetween to which a string 15 is adapted to be attached whereby the body 11 is adapted to rotate to unwind and wind the string on the center pin so that the body element will unwind downwardly on the string by gravitation and climb upwardly thereon by rewinding the string through the rotational momentum of the body.

Each body section 12 and 13 is generally calathiform in configuration, including an outer, inwardly-curved flanged periphery 16 having an inner annular surface 17, the surfaces 17 being adjacent and substantially parallel when the body sections 12 and 13 are secured to the center pin 14. Each body section further includes an outwardly extending central boss 18 having a bore 19 extending centrally therethrough and through which bores the outer ends of the center pin 14 extend when the body is assembled with the bores coaxially aligned. An outwardly-facing annular groove 21 is formed in each body section around its boss 18 and an inwardly-facing annular groove 22 is formed adjacent to its periphery 16 so as to form an annular wall 23 coaxial to the boss 18 and distributing the bulk of the weight of the body section adjacent to its periphery 16 furthest away from the axis 24 of the rotation of the body so as to substantially increase the rotational period of acceleration of the body. The body sections 12 and 13 are preferably molded, die-cast or otherwise formed of a relatively flexible material, such as a high-impact polystyrene plastic, or the equivalent, whereas the center pin 14 is preferably made of a relatively hard wood having a smooth, cylindrical outer surface and preferably having its grain substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 24 of the pm.

Improved gripping means are provided on each boss 18 for gripping the outer ends of the center pin 14 in the bores 19 so as to prevent inadvertent loosening or detachment of the pin 14 from the bores. For this purpose, each boss 18 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots 26 extending through the wall 27 of the boss so as to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced and relatively flexible longitudinal fingers 28 extending outwardly and surrounded by the annular groove 21. Each finger 28 is provided with at least one longitudinal V-shaped ridge 29 extending laterally inwardly into the bore 19 so that when an end of the center pin 14 is inserted into the bore 19, the longitudinal ridges 29 bite into center pin, as best seen in FIGURE 4, so as to hold the pin 14 in non-rotational relationship to the bores 19.

In the drawing, twovsuch ridges. 29 are shown as being provided on each finger 28. r

The gripping means preferably further includes at least thelongitudinal grain of the.

one inwardly-extending, substantially annular ridge 31 comprising segmental ridges provided on the inner surface of each finger 28; the ridges lie' on a common plane transverse to the axis of the bores. vWhen the pin 14 is inserted the'full length of the bores 19 so that'its outer ends 33 are substantially flush with the outer ends 34 of FIGURE 9 illustrates a modification of the body sections 12 and 13 and generally referred to by the numerals 12' and 13'. In the instant embodiment, each section is'formedwith a pair of substantially concentric annular peripheral flanges 16' and 16" which are concentric andthe body portions are of uniform thicknessthroughout the the bosses 18, the outer circumferential surface 36 of the t pin causes the fingers 28 to spread substantially, as best shown in FIGURE 5, inasmuch as the annular ridge 31 is transverse to the grain of the pin. Initially, the outer surfaces of the pin 14 and bores 19 V are cylindrical throughout their lengths and have a substantiallyclose H fit with each other. p t

A retaining ferrule means 37 is provided which is cooperative with the outer surface of each boss 18 to apply a circumferential force squeezing therfingers inwardly to cause the annular ridge segments 31 to bite into the F wood center pin 14, as substantially illustratedin FIG- URE6; The ferrule 37 includes a cylindrical tubular .por-

tion 38 of relatively thin metallic, or other relatively rigid, material having an outwardly flared or belled opening 39 tofacilitate insertion of the open endover the ,7

outer end '34 of the boss.. The ferrule 37 preferably includes an outwardly extending radial flange 41 adjacent to its outer end which is substantially flush with the outer ends 33 and 34 of the pin 14 and bosses 18, respective ly, when the ferrule 37 is in its final assembled relation ship to its .boss, as illustrated in FIGURE '2. To further facilitate insertionvof the bosses 18 into the ferrules 37, the outer end 34 thereof is preferably bevelled as indicated at 43. Also, to facilitate insertion of the outer-ends of body portions. This permits molding the body portions on a fast, uniform molding cycle because no thickened portions are present to delay the molding cycle. It is understood that the bosses 18 are not considered as'wall :sections and since the bosses are thinner than the wall sections, the difference in thickness will not delay the molding cycle.

The string may be secured in a conventional manner to the center pin 14 so as to loosely, or tightly, be attached to the center pin andis initially wound around the center pin withinthedspace 4-5 defined between the body sections 12 and 13 (or 12'. and 13') to form a coil around the pin. To initiate momentum of the body 11,.

a finger of the user is extended through a loop formed on the outer end of the string 15 whereupon the body is released (.orthrown)'to unwind by gravity of the released body (or the outward force of the thrown body) to unwind the pin 14 into the bosses 18, the ends 33 of the pin a As will be more clearly understood from the foregoing description, the outer ends 33 ofthe pin 14: are insertable are preferably bevelled as indicated at 44;

into the bores 19 of the body, sections 12 and 13 to drive the longitudinal ridges 29 into the pin 14 until the ends 33 of the pin encounter the, annular ridges 31 of the bosses whereby the fingers 28 of the, bosses arespread to allow the pin ends to pass the'annular-ridges 31. Subsequently, the. ferrules 37 are driven; over the bosses 18 to force the fingers inwardly and cause the annular ridge segments 31 to bite transversely into the grain of the'wood comprising the center pin 14. The ferrule retains the fingers in their biting engagement to prevent the 'pin 14 from being inadvertently or accidentally axially 'withtain a space 45 between the body portions.

Closure means, generally designated by the numeral 7 46, are preferably provided for covering the annular drawn from the body portions 12 and- 13 and to] 'rnain- V grooves 21 and the bosses 18 so as towgive thebody 11 a substantially solid appearance and to prevent removal, of the ferrules37 from the bosses. For this'pui'pos'e, an"

outwardly facing annular recess 47 jis provided on each body portion 12 and 13 and into' -whic'h therelatively flat and disc-like closuremember 46 nay'be snapped inasmuch as the recess is. preferably formed with a frustoconicalwall surface 48 spaced outwardly frorn' the annular groove 21; as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 7.

The disc-like closure member ispreferably transparent,

' or optionallyfopaque or translucent, whereby anyattractive colors, or combinationsof colors may be applied to the body. If transparent, colors may be applied 'to the grooves 21 and viewed fromthe exterion-f' The closure means further provides means whereby printing or ad-' vertising maybe applied either to the exterior. of the disc" V groove 21 for the purpose of identification and/ord g, tion.

. 46, the interior thereof, or the exterior of the 'bodvin the to the end of 'the' string secured to the center pin 14. At 'the end of the throwing or releasing motion, the motion of the hand of the user may be arrested in the vent that 'thestring end secured to the center pin is looped therearound whereby the momentum of the unwinding causes the body 11 to continueto rotate in what is termed a sleeping act1on of the toy. A slight jerk on the upper vend of the string by the. hand while the body is still rotating then causes the string to frictionally engage'the inner sides of the body. sections 12 and 13 and the pin 14 to cause the string 15 to wind upon the pin 14 and the body 11' to-climb upwardly thereon and return to the hand. In the event that the end of the string 15 opposite to the loop 20-is tightly securedto the pin, the body will climb immediately I after reaching the bottom end. In

this 'manner the string is caused to, unwind in the down- -ward gravitational, or otheroutward, force of the body tothe end of the string andrewind thereon due to the rotational momentumimparted to the body and thereby I climb on the string to rewind the string around the center pin and to return to the hand. In other words, when the string is'loosely twisted, the loop end around the pin is loose permitting free spin or sleeping. When the string is tightly twisted, the pin cannot turn freely so that the Yo-yo returns to the operators hand immediately Manytricks are achievable on a Yo-yo type toy, some of which'involve using-the string like 15 in a multiple 1 condition wherein the string is folded back on itself one or more times and the disc-like members are straddled over one or more of the strands to be coactive therewith to'move the Yo-yo relative to the string. Such tricks,

however, require selectively applied friction between the inner surfaces of the discs and the string. A common disadvantage encountered in accomplishing such tricks is in that either too much, or too little, friction is provided between these disc surfaces and/orthe axle, and the string.

In .the event that the. friction is excessive, the disc-like members operate too readily to rewind the axle on the string, or jam the string between the body sections. Conversely, if the axle and disc-like members are too smooth,

" the. members fail to rewind the string at the proper time.

To overcome this problem'so as to provide cohesion between string and, members 12 and 13 more effective l for proper execution of the tricks, annular portions of the dinner surfaces of each of 'the members 12 and 13 (or the members 12' and 13') are of slightly roughened configuration, such as by etching (or frosting), whereby the string is movable relative thereto when it is desired to spin the Yo-yo (and its axle) relative to the loop of the string but the surfaces provide enough friction when brought into engagement with the string (as by the buildup of thickness when the string is compactly wound upon itself) to cause the string to be rewound on the body of the Yo-yo.

For this purpose, the Yo-yo (or 10), as best seen in FIGURE 10, is provided with a roughened annular area 50 on the inner surface of each of the discs 12 and 13 (or 12' and 13') and surrounding the center pin 14 (or 14'). The annular area 50 is roughened to a relatively shallow depth as by etching, frosting, or the like, to be relatively cohesive with the string so that the string may be selectively rewound on the pin, when desired, but it is sufiiciently smooth so as to selectively permit the body to spin relative to the string.

While there are herein shown and described what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments of this invention, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of this invention which is not limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A manually operable reversing whirling toy comprising:

a rotable body including a pair of laterally-spaced disclike members;

a center pin axially, laterally and non-rotatably supported therebetween and fabricated of a softer ma terial than said members; and

string means adapted to be attached to said pin whereby said body will unwind said string from said center pin by gravitation and whereby said body will climb on said string by rewinding said string on said center pin through its own rotational momentum,

each of said body member-s comprising a wall generally calathiform in configuration with an outwardly extending central boss having a bore therethrough and an outwardly facing open annular groove surrounding said boss;

means defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots extending through each said boss and forming a plurality of relatively flexible, arcuate fingers therebetween; tubular ferrule means fitting over each said boss for holding said fingers against radial spreading; and

internal ridge means on the interior of each said boss for gripping said central pin in response to fitting of said ferrule means over said bosses.

2. A toy as defined in claim 1, including closure means having a snap fit with said annular groove for covering said pin and the outer ends of said bosses.

3. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said ridge means includes at least one inwardly-extending transverse ridge on the internal surface of each finger of said boss and substantially midway thereof, said transverse ridges of each boss being contiguous and being on a common plane so as to define a segmental annular ridge thereon.

4. A toy as defined in claim 3, wherein said ridge means includes at least one inwardly-extending longitudinal ridge on the internal surface of each of said fingers of said boss and intersecting said segmental annular ridge.

5. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said ridge means includes at least one inwardly extending longitudinal ridge on the internal surface of each of said fingers of said bosses.

6. A toy as defined in claim 1, wherein each said boss has an externally bevelled outer end and each of said ferrule means has a flared inner end complementary thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,311,534 7/19 Seymour 46-61 2,579,022 12/51 Spencer et al 46-61 2,629,202 2/53 Stivers et al 4661 2,744,354 5/56 Watkins et al 46-60 2,940,212 6/60 Bond 4661 3,038,194 6/62 Arenson 2871 14 X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

JAMES W. LOVE, Examiner. 

1. A MANUALLY OPERABLE REVERSING WHIRLING TOY COMPRISING: A ROTABLE BODY INCLUDING A PAIR OF LATERALLY-SPACED DISCLIKE MEMBERS; A CENTER PIN AXIALLY, LATERALLY AND NON-ROTATABLY SUPPORTED THEREBETWEEN AND FABRICATED OF A SOFTER MATERIAL THAN SAID MEMBERS; AND STRING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO SAID PIN WHEREBY SAID BODY WILL UNWIND SAID STRING FROM SAID CENTER PIN BY GRAVITATION AND WHEREBY SAID BODY WILL CLIMB ON SAID STRING BY REWINDING SAID STRING ON SAID CENTER PIN THROUGH ITS OWN ROTATIONAL MOMENTUM, EACH OF SAID BODY MEMBERS COMPRISING A WALL GENERALLY CALATHIFORM IN CONFIGURATION WITH AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING CENTRAL BOSS HAVING A BORE THERETHROUGH AND AN OUTWARDLY FACING OPEN ANNULAR GROOVE SURROUNDING SAID BOSS; MEANS DEFINING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED LONGITUDINAL SLOTS EXTENDING THROUGH EACH SAID BOSS AND FORMING A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE, ARCUATE FINGERS THEREBETWEEN; TUBULAR FERRULE MEANS FITTING OVER EACH SAID BOSS FOR HOLDING SAID FINGERS RADIAL SPREADING; AND INTERNAL RIDGE MEANS ON THE INTERIOR OF EACH SAID BOSS FOR GRIPPING SAID CENTRAL PIN IN RESPONSE TO FITTING OF SAID FERRULE MEANS OVER SAID BOSSES. 